Mar 1 - Battle of Swing Contests



These are the divisions and formats from 2007. We are still working out the schedule and contest details for 2008. Generally you can expect similiar formats with some new additions and improvements. Sign-up on our email list and we'll keep you up to date!


Team Challenge (2007)

Open to all dancers, in groups of 3 couples (6 dancers). Show us what you can do with your teammates!

Why three (3) couples per team? Four is too many. How are you going to show anything cool if you have to compete with your own teammates just for time on the dance floor? Two would work, but we would like to encourage three couples per team.
What kind of music will you play? Swing music, in popular song/standard format (32-bar, or 16 eight-counts, for the AABA Chorus). Both the pre-lims and finals (if needed) will be to live music. The music will be energetic and swinging, with a tempo of approximately 190-240bpm (beats per minute).
What can my team do to prepare? You can fill your spotlight time with prepared sequences, or you can just rely on your ability to create stuff on the fly. During your spotlight time, you may have just one couple, or any number team members involved.
Can we do solo stuff? YES! During your spotlight, your team can do whatever you want: solo charleston, group sequences, hip-hop, acrobatics, waltz. Some choices may fit the music be better then others.
How much spotlight time will we get? The amount of time for each of your spotlights will be determined and negiotiated on the spot by everyone dancing in your heat. With the music used in this contest, we expect spotlights of about two phrases (8 eight-counts) will work well. Occasionally longer spotlights may be cool if you can keep it interesting. Make sure you are respectful to the other teams, allowing them the opprotunity for equal time.
What happens if our team interferes with another team? Allowing some overlap between entrances and exits is part of what make spotlight contests cool. However, trying to mess-up another team's spotlight is a cowardly action. Don't be afraid of what the other team can do, come up with something better! Let's make sure to respect each other as dancers and performers, and give a good show for everyone involved.
Do we need a team name? Of course you do! How else are we going to refer to you? However, if you don't have a name by the time the contest starts, you will be assigned a team name, so don't stress about it.
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Jack-n-Jill (2007)

Competitive social dancing! Come ready to kick some butt with ... who knows? We will be randomly assigning you to partners of the opposite role to compete with. Sign yourself up for a role (no role changing in the middle), and we'll figure out who you're dancing with.

Do I get stuck with just one person? You will get to dance with a number of different partners in the prelims, and you will be judged as an individual dancer. All couples will dance at the same time (or in heats, if there are enough contestants). The finals will be different.
How are the finals different? In the finals, you will be judged as a couple. You will dance with one assigned partner for the finals, and you will both bring it, ya hear? Finals will also be danced to live music, and you will be dancing one-chorus (4 phrases / 32-bars / 16 eight-count) spotlights dances as well as all-skate dances.
What kind of music will I expect in the Jack-n-Jill? You will hear a variety of musical styles and tempos commonly heard on the social dance floor. The preliminary rounds will be to DJ'd music, and the finals will be to live music with the Hoppin' Mad Orchestra.
What about lead/follow balance? If you sign-up early, you won't have to worry about it! We will manage the balancing of leads and follows. Just sign up!
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Lindy Champions (2007)

Alright, so you want to show your stuff with the partner of your choice, right? Here's your chance! The Lindy Champions contest will feature a variety of musical styles and tempos, so let's see what you can do!

So you say there's a variety of musical styles and tempos? What does that mean? In the prelims, you will be dancing to music of a variety of styles: big band, small combos, high energy, sassy, sweet. You will dance to at least 3 different tempo ranges: slow (120-160bpm), medium (160-195bpm) and fast (195+ bpm). If you make it to the finals, you will dance to at least 2 different tempos: slow and fast.
What is the format for the finals? The final round dances will be danced as spotlight dances, until near the end of each song when all the couples will be asked to dance. The spotlights will be 8 eight-counts (2 phrases / half a chorus) each. The slow song comes first, and the fast song last.
So I will be dancing 3 songs in the prelims and 2 in the finals? At least. The judges may ask for more songs to help them decide.
What if I get a sucky part of the song? WHAT are you TALKING ABOUT? There's no sucky part of the song. And besides, you get more than one chance. If you think you got shafted with the part of the song you got, it's likely you're too hung over to find the beat.
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Charleston - Jazz Contest (2007)

When the music moves you, what do you do? Everyone dances solo at home more often than they admit! So here's your chance to show off your own individual style! Prepare yourself to dance to a variety of traditional jazz music, both of the Charleston era and the swing era! All to live music!

What if I start dancing with a partner? You're free to do so, but you'll still be judged as an individual, so you better make sure you're outshining this "partner".
All of this is to live music? Yes! When the judges narrow the number down to around 5 dancers, the song will quickly finish up and those dancers will be coached on the order and format for the spotlight dances in the next song.
How many songs in the prelims and finals? As many songs as necessary in the prelims to get the number down to the finalists. Probably one or two. The finals will have at least two songs.
What kind of music should I expect? Expect some great Charleston and Swing music that will make all the members of the audience wish they had signed up for the contest just so they can dance to it. The music will be performed by the Hoppin' Mad Orchestra.
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Just Dance (2007)

Competitive social dancing, with a partner of your choice! You can expect slow to medium tempo swing music. The music will play, and everyone will be on the floor. For the first couple of songs, judges will tap-out contestants (if enough couples enter this division). After there are only five to ten couples left, the next song will start the finals. Finals will have all dancers on the floor for one or two songs.

How fast is the music? You will hear a variety of musical styles and tempos commonly heard on the social dance floor. You can expect slow to medium tempo songs in this division, we'll save the faster stuff for the Fast Dancing Contest.
What is or is not allowed? This is the Battle of Swing - there are no rules or restrictions for what you can dance. If it's good, the judges will reward.
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Fast Dancing (2007)

So you want to get your heart rate going? Choose a partner and show what you got. The music will play, and everyone will be on the floor. Whoever can swing it the best wins! If enough couples enter this division, there will be a preliminary tap-out round. You'll get a little time to catch your breath, and then go all out for the final round!

What is or is not allowed? This is the Battle of Swing - there are no rules or restrictions for what you can dance. If it's good, the judges will reward.
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Cabaret Division (2007)

Whoa, whoa, wait a minute? Is there any contest where you can bring your own music to dance to? Why yes, the Cabaret division! You can dance as an individual, a couple, or a group of any size! Dance any style you want!

Can I ask you to play first song X and then song Y when I wave my arms at you? No. This is not a cabaret where we will be doing a lot of coordination between the acts and the sound guy. You should bring a CD with the music as you want it played. It's still about dancing. So get out there and dance!
I have a song that's 20 minutes long. Can you play it? Sure! However, we retain the right to cut short your song and kick you off stage if it's too long and/or boring. Please try to keep your performances under 5 minutes.
When is this division? Cabaret acts will be scheduled throughout the daytime events and possibly evening dance. Please sign-up in advance to help us plan a smooth schedule for this event.
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